A form of the word "numb" helps describe Scutaro's performance in the National League Championship Series: numbingly consistent.

Game 1: two hits. Game 2: two hits. Game 3: two hits. Game 4: two hits. Game 5: (a slump) one hit. Sunday's Game 6: two hits, including a two-out, two-run double that keyed the Giants' four-run second inning in their 6-1 romp over St. Louis. Holliday missed the game because of back spasms.

Scutaro left Game 2 after five innings because of pain in his hip and knee. After Sunday's game, Scutaro said he's pretty much pain free. He's clearly causing some hurt for the Cardinals.

"He's gotten big hits against us," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said, adding that there's "something to be said about somebody (who's) able to compete and produce in this environment."

Said Game 7 starter Kyle Lohse: "He's really impressed us with his approach and the things he does up there."

Scutaro has impressed his teammates since he joined the Giants in a late-July trade with Colorado for minor-league infielder Charlie Culberson.

"I'm just glad I don't have to face him anymore," said Ryan Vogelsong, the winner of Games 2 and 6. "I think a lot of the nation is finally getting to see the player that Marco is because of this postseason, but the things that he's doing aren't surprising to anybody on this club."

Said shortstop Brandon Crawford: "All the way around, he's just a professional player."

A professional player who ended the regular season with a 20-game hitting streak, Scutaro is riding a nine-gamer in the postseason. He's 11-for-24 (.458) in the NLCS.

"He's going to put the ball in play," manager Bruce Bochy said of Scutaro. "He doesn't try to do too much up there.

"When you need a hit, that's the type of hitter you like up there, a guy that is disciplined and uses the whole field and finds a way to get a good part of the bat on the ball."

In Scutaro's lone postseason before 2012, he helped the A's sweep Minnesota in an '06 American League Division Series. Scutaro had four doubles and six RBIs in those three games.

When Detroit swept Oakland in the ensuing ALCS, Scutaro went 1-for-15.

He'll turn 37 on Oct. 30. He owns a .276 career average in 11 big-league seasons. He has played for the Mets, A's, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Rockies and Giants.

"He's had a great career," Bochy said.

One thing missing from Scutaro's career is an appearance in the World Series.

"We're 27 outs from being in the World Series," Scutaro said, "and that, for me, is priceless."

You get the sense that if the Giants prevail Monday evening, Scutaro might become a little numb - in a truly good way.